Folding table



J. KOvATs FOLDING TABLE March 14, 1933.

Filed May 31, 1950 4 supporting position will impart a similar and Patented Mar. 14, 1933 is y JOHN IKOVATS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNR TO VTHE LEG-U-EATIC COIVI- Y 'Y IPANY, OF BBIDG-EPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT FOLDING TABLE Application filed. Mayrl, 1930. Serial No. l58,01%

This invention relates to a table, particu'- larly to a means for mounting the supporting y legs of the table, and has for'an obj ect to provide means for so connecting the supporting legs to the table that they may all be folded against the under side of the table, and are connected by mechanism so that the swinging of any one leg to or fromthe extended or simultaneous movement to each of the other` legs. v y

lt is also an object of this invention to provide a construction in whichthere is a single manually releasable locking means which is sov connected to the leg connecting mechanism `that the legs will all be automatically locked lt is another object of the inventionto pro vide a construction in which, although all the legs may be swung to or from the extended or'folded position by swinging any individual leg on its pivot, still the legs are rigidly `held in the supporting position to provide arigid support for the table.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a construction of this character in which practically the entire structure including the linked members interconnecting operating train of mechanism, may be stamped from sheet metal and maybe manufactured and assembled atrelatively low cost. With the foregoing and other Objects in view, the invention consists in -certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawing.V

ln this drawing, 1 Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of atable showing the legs folded against the under side thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one edge of the under side of the table with the legs in extended or supporting position, and is on line Qf-Q, of Fig. 3.

'Fig 3 is a section looking in the direc-v .i

This devicey is adapted for tables of various c types, but'is especially intended for use on what arev commonly known as card tables lin which the legs are foldable against theunder side ofthe table top, so that-the tablemay be folded into a small space and put away into ra closet or other suitable space when not in use, and .the device is, therefore, shown in the drawing as applied to this type of table. The table topis shown at'12 which, of course,

may be of any suitable material and maybe finished on the top or covered with any suit-v ablecover as is found desirable. Secured lto lthe under side of this type of the table and extending about the periphery thereof are usually mounted wooden bars 13 which strengthen and stiften the table top and assist in preventing warping. rThe table shown is a substantially square or rectangular table andl Y is, therefore, provided with a supporting leg 14 at each corner. These legs are each pivoted to thetable so as to fold or swingagainst the under side thereof and they are all mountedin the same manner. They thus each swing in the same direction in relation to the periphery of the table from their individual corners and lie substantially parallel with the bar or flange 13 when they are folded against the under side ofthe table top.v As the means for mounting each is the same as that for mounting each of the otherlegs oneset of dies may be used for makingall themountings and they are, therefore, each interchangeable, and I will describe but one of them. v j

The legs 14- are substantially square in cross section, but, of course, may be of any shape desired.V The upper end of each leg is pivoted at 15 in va bracket 16 which issecured at each corner to the under side of the table by bolts 17. Pivoted to veach leg as at 18 is a link or brace 19 which serves to brace the leg When in extended or supporting position and also serves as a factor in the transmission of pivoting movement from on leg to the other leg by the train of mechanism about to be described. Aliixed to each side of the table, and more particularly to the inner side'of bar 13, by means of bolts 2O and 21 is a guidevvay 22-Which is so shaped as to have a plurality of slots 23 therein spaced from the bar 13 so as toprovideclearance for the heads of the studs 24, and 26. Slidably guided and retained by these studs is the flat strap 27 having ears 28 and 29 projecting at right angles thereto along the side lnear each endthereof. Y

Stud 26 also serves as a pivoting pin for pivoting brace or link 19' to the nearer end of strap '27, so that reciprocatory movement of strap 27 Will be translated into pivotal movement of legs 14 and vice versa. Aifxed to the table diagonally of each corner is another lguidevvay 30, one end of Which is held to a bar 13 by a bolt A31 and the other end to the adjacent bar 13 by the same bolt 21 that holds one end of guideway 22. In the guide- Way 3Q is a slot 30 spaced from the' table topr'ovide clearance `for theliead of ka pivoting stud 32 which serves tolconnect and guide the movements of a pair of links 33 the other ends lof links 33 being pivotally connected to ears 28 and 29 at 23 and 29 j respectively.

VIn order to releasably lock the train against movement When the legs are in supporting position, a spring catch or lock 34 is fastened to one of the bars 13 at 35 and has a tongue36 in position to abut the further end of one of the straps 27 when the legs are ex-v tended to supporting position. A linger y catch or lip 37 is bentawayfrom the end of latch 34 and serves to raise tongue 36 out `of Contact with strap 27 that it may slide by it.

The operation of the table is quite simple. When the legs are foldedwin the position shown infFig.1,it is only necessary for the operator to grasp anyone leg and pivot it to the extendedrorV supporting position. The pivoting of this leg Willoperate, yby means of brace19, to move the strap 27 to which the brace is pivoted, which in turn will move the links 33 and henceall the other straps 27 and thereby simultaneously pivot all the other legs to extended position.V lVhen the legs Areach the extended position, tongue 36 of catch 34 will abut behind the strap 27 adjacent Which it is attached and lock the strap 27 against movement, thus holding the en-` .tire train' against movement and hence lock all the legsin extended position. v

Now WhenV the operator desires to fold the legs to put the table away, the operator lifts the finger catch or lip 37 away from bar 13, which will then permit strap 27 to slide by it and by folding any one leg, the other legs Will be folded simultaneously by the train of straps and links. It Will be noted also that practically all the parts including the various elements of the train,v can be made of sheet metal, and that the construction is a very simple one and provides a durable and rigid table, said connection including rigid straps,

pivotally connected links connecting said straps to each other, and slotted guideways by which said straps are guided in their movements. Y

2'. In a table, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted tothe table on individual pivots arranged so that all the legs fold in the saine di rection With-respect `to the periphery of the table and aslidably mounted rigid strap betvveen'each pair of legs, andL link Vconnections vvbetween the straps and the legs capable of transmitting similar movement from any legV to each of the other legs to 'extend they legsI A to supportingfposition or fold them against the table. l

3. In a table, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the table and foldable against it, and linked rigid pivoted means connecting all the legs including a slidably mounted rigid member between each adjacent pair -of legs, guided links connecting adjacent rigid members, and a pivoted link connectingeach leg to one of said members so that operation of any leg on its pivot will impartsimilar movement to all the other legs. i

4. In a table, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the table and foldable against it, linked rigid pivoted means for connecting the legs With each other so that movement of any lleg Will give similar movement to the other legs including a rigid slidably 'mounted member` between each pair of legs andlinks vfor connecting saidl members to each other and to the legs,fand locking means for hold ing said connecting means against movement when thelegs are in supporting position.

v 5.' In a table, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the table so as to fold against it,

n guides secured to the table, rigid strap members slidably retained byfsaid guides, rigid means linking said strap members together and connections from said members t0 the respective legs t0 swing them on their pivots by movement of said linked members.

6. In a table, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the table so as tofold against it, guides secured to the table, rigid strap memiso bers slidably retained by said guides, rigid means linking said strap members together and a pivoted brace connection from each strap member to each leg so that movement of any leg to or from folded or extended position transmits similar movements to all the other legs.

7. In a table, a plurality of supporting legsA secured to the table adjacent yeach leg, pivoted A connected link members guided by said last mentioned guide and pivotally interconnecting said strap members, a brace .pivoted to each strap and to each legwhereby movement of any one leg imparts similar movement to all the other legs.

9. In a substantially rectangular table, a supporting leg pivoted thereto adjacent each corner and adapted to fold against the table, a slotted guide mounted at each side of the table, a rigid strap slidably retained by said guide, a slotted guide mounted on the table diagonally of each corner thereof, a pair of pivoted links having their pivoting pin guided by said diagonal guide, the other ends of each of said pivoted links being each pivotally connected toone end of each of said rigid straps and a brace pivoted to each strap and to each leg, whereby movement of any one leg imparts corresponding movement to each of the other legs. V

l0. In a substantially rectangular table, a supporting vleg'pivoted thereto adjacent each corner and adapted to `fold against the table, a slotted guide mounted at each side of the table, a rigid strap slidably retained by said guide, a slotted guide mounted on the table diagonally of each corner thereof, a pair of pivoted links having their pivoting pin guided by said diagonal guide, the other ends of each of said pivoted links being each pivotally connected to one end of each of saidV rigid straps and a brace pivoted to each strap and to each leg, whereby movement of any one leg imparts corresponding `movement to each of the other legs, and manually releasable means locking one of said straps against movement when the legs are in supporting position whereby to hold all the legs in rigid supporting position.

11. In a table, a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the table so as to fold against it, a guide on each sideof the table, linked rigid straps slidably retained by said guides,

a brace pivoted to each strap adjacent'each strap adjacent each leg and having pivotal connection with the legs, and pivoted links linking said straps. l

12. In a table,` a plurality of supporting legs pivoted to the table so as to fold against it, a guide carried by the table adjacent each side thereof, rigid straps slidably retained by said guides, another gui-de carried by the table adjacent each leg, pivoted connected link members guided by said last mentioned guide and pivotally connecting the strap members, and a brace pivoted to each strap and to each leg whereby movement of any one leg imparts similar movement to all the other legs. n

13. In a substantially rectangular table, a supporting leg pivoted thereto adjacent each corner and adapted to fold against the table, a guide at each side of the table, a rigid strap slidably retained byV said guide, a lguide mounted on the table diagonally of each corner thereof, a pair ofpivoted links guided by said diagonal guide adjacent their pivotal connection, the other ends of each of said pivoted links being pivotally connected-tov one of said rigid straps, and a brace pivoted to each strap and to each leg, whereby movement of any one leg imparts corresponding movement to each yof the other legs.

lll. In a substantially rectangular table, a supporting'leg pivoted thereto adjacent each corner and adapted to fold against the table, a guide at each side of the table, a rigid strap slidably retained by said guide, a guide mounted on the table diagonally of each corner thereof, a pair of pivoted links guided adjacent their pivotal connection by said diagonal guide, the other ends of each of said pivoted links being each pivotally connected to one of each of said rigid straps, a brace pivoted to each strap and each leg whereby movement of any one leg imparts corresponding movement to each of the other legs, and manually releasable means `locking one of said straps against movement when the legs are in supporting position whereby to hold all the legs in rigid supporting position.

In testimony whereof I afiX my signature.

JOI-IN KOVATS. 

